Olympus Corporation

Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.

Takeshi Ozawa

Katsuichi Imaizumi

Isami Hirao

Sakae Takehana

Nobuyuki Doguchi

Mamoru Kaneko

Hitoshi Ueno

Shunya Akimoto

Kazunari Nakamura

Yoshinori Takahashi

Takefumi Uesugi

Koichi Yoshimitsu

Yuichi Morizane

Masaki Terakubo

Hiroshi Ibe

Kazuhiro Gono

Tadashi Hirata

Makoto Tomioka

Masahiro Kawauchi

Yasukazu Kogen

Hiroki Hibino

Hitoshi Mizuno

Akihiro Horii

Kenji Yoshino

Yoshinao Oaki

Toshimasa Kawai

Jun Hiroya

Masahiro Ohno

Eiji Yasuda

Hiroyuki Sangu

Hidemichi Aoki

Hironobu Takizawa

Hideyuki Adachi

Fumiyuki Okawa

Atsushi Okawa

Sakae Takahana

The electronic endoscope device in accordance with the present invention comprises an image pick-up unit capable of acquiring an object image with respect to illumination light employed for illuminating the object for each prescribed wavelength band, an exposure period setting circuit for setting the exposure period of the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, an amplification circuit for amplifying picked-up image signals of the object image obtained with the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, and a control circuit for controlling the amplification circuit such that the picked-up image signals corresponded to the each wavelength band of the object image that are acquired with the image pick-up unit at the exposure period set corresponding to the each wavelength band set by the exposure period setting circuit are amplified at amplification factors computed corresponding to the exposure period that is set corresponding to the each wavelength band.

Electronic endoscopic device having a color balance adjustment system

An endoscope system includes a light source for supplying three narrow wavelength bands including one wavelength band for exciting fluorescence, an excitation light cut filter for transmitting light having a wavelength greater than either 470 nm or 490 nm, and an image capturing unit for capturing the light transmitted by the excitation light cut filter and outputting three wavelength band signals corresponding to the three narrow wavelength bands of the light source. Also included are first, second and third frame memories for inputting and storing the three wavelength band signals, respectively, and first, second and third output ends for outputting first, second and third color signals, respectively, to a monitor for displaying an image. An image processor receives signals from the first, second and third frame memories respectively and selects among the first output end, the second output end and third output end for outputting the received signals to the monitor.

Endoscope system using normal light and fluorescence

A CCD driver circuit adjusts and supplies pulse-type signals to a CCD in order to adjust the sensitivity of the CCD. A metering circuit meters a signal output from the CCD. A sensitivity control circuit controls the sensitivity of the CCD by controlling the sensitivity multiplication factor of the CCD based on a metering result by the metering circuit. A metering correcting circuit corrects a metering result from the metering circuit based on a charge multiplication factor from the sensitivity control circuit. An aperture control circuit controls an aperture based on a metering signal corrected by the metering correcting circuit. Thus, an image of an object of which strength of light largely varies can be obtained as an image under a proper dimming state.

Endoscope apparatus for obtaining properly dimmed observation images

Illumination light supplied from an illumination light supplying unit that can selectively supply a plurality kinds of illumination lights whose wavelengths fall in different regions is supplied to an object. A signal picking up an image of the object is received by a programmable circuit unit that is programmably constructed based on circuit data, and then subjected to signal processing. A circuit data holding unit holds a plurality kinds of circuit data to be used for the programmable circuit unit. A control unit selects circuit data, which is used for the programmable circuit unit, from among all the circuit data items held in the circuit data holding unit corresponding to illumination light supplied from the illumination light supplying unit.

Programmable image processing unit which displays a tentative image during programming

An image pick-up apparatus includes an image pick-up device which picks-up an image of a subject and outputs an image signal, a first-amplitude changing portion which varies an amplitude of the image signal outputted form the image pick-up device, a second-amplitude changing portion which varies the amplitude of the image signal to be outputted, a comparing portion which compares the amplitude of the image signal with a value of a target amplitude, and a control portion which controls the first- and second-amplitude changing portions based on the comparison result of the comparing portion and changes the amplitude of the image signal so that it is approximate to the target amplitude so that an observed image of the subject displayed on display means has a desired brightness.

Image pick-up apparatus and endoscope apparatus

An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope that has a solid-state image-pickup device in which charges are accumulated in order to pick up an object image. The endoscope apparatus further comprises a memory in which a plurality of pieces of information on the accumulation period during which charges are accumulated in the solid-state image-pickup device is stored, and a drive unit that controls the accumulation period, during which charges are accumulated in the solid-state image-pickup device, on the basis of the pieces of information on the accumulation period stored in the memory. The endoscope further includes an optical member whose surface is shaped rotationally asymmetric. Correction information stored in a memory and associated with the optical element is used to correct an output signal of the solid-state image-pickup device.

Endoscope apparatus with solid-state pick-up

An image processing device having a very straightforward construction, for obtaining an image in which normal tissue and diseased tissue are easy to identify, comprises: an image synthesizing section that generates a synthesized image by synthesizing an image signal of reflected light image produced by illumination light obtained by illuminating body tissue with illumination light and an image signal of a fluorescent image obtained by illuminating the body tissue with excitation light; and a gain adjustment section that adjusts the gain of the image signal of the reflected light image and/or the image signal of the fluorescent image such that the boundary of the hues of the normal tissue and diseased tissue found from the optical characteristics of the respective tissues is contained in a predetermined range with respect to a prescribed standard chromaticity diagram, depending on whether the body tissue that is displayed on the synthesized image generated by the image synthesizing section is normal tissue or diseased tissue.

Image processing device for fluorescence observation

An endoscope system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope with a monochrome image pickup device for capturing reflected light and fluorescence from the body cavity, an excitation light cut filter which is installed in front of the image pickup device for shielding excitation light, and an endoscope ID which includes information on the type of the endoscope. A light source unit includes a first switching filter that irradiates light including excitation light for a fluorescent image mode and a filter for generating continuous light for a normal-light image mode. The filters switch based between the fluorescent image mode and the normal-light image mode. A second switching filter with a limiting filter that limits certain wavelengths of excitation light of the first switching filter is provided. The limiting filters are switched according to the endoscope ID or observation state in the fluorescence mode. The excitation light cut filter shields excitation light generated by the first and second filters.

An image processing device for an endoscope, wherein a wavelength band filter for shielding at least a part of the blue wavelength band is disposed in front of an image pickup element built into the endoscope, for image processing the signal output by said image pickup element includes means for generating color image signals whilst switching between a normal-light image mode using white light and a fluorescence image mode including fluorescence information and adjusting means for adjusting the gain of a prescribed color signal of said color image signals.

Endoscope device, endoscope and image processing device for endoscope

In the light source unitA, a switching filter sectionwhich can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscopeA, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filterin front of the CCDso as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitorin pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.

In a light source unit, a switchable filter section in which an RGB filter and a fluorescence observation filter can be shifted into the light path is disposed in front of a lamp. When fluorescence image mode is selected, excitation light in a part of the wavelength band of the blue wavelength band is supplied to an electronic endoscope, and the excitation light which is reflected by the subject is shielded by an excitation light shielding filter situated in front of a CCD, whereby a fluorescence image can be obtained. On the other hand, if normal-light image mode is selected, then R, G, B light is supplied sequentially, and even under illumination of B light, the color component image in the wavelength bands which are not shielded by the excitation light shielding filter are captured, thereby yielding a normal-light image also, and hence making it possible to capture both a fluorescence image and a normal-light image by means of a single image pickup element.

Endoscope with a single image pick-up element for fluorescent and normal-light images

An imaging system for use with an endoscope, including a light source which emits white light and excitation light which will produce a fluorescence response by an object under inspection, an imaging camera including separate paths for processing images produced by white light and excitation light, a selection device that causes the imaging device to operate in a white light mode or an excitation light mode, and a protective device that prevents damage to high-sensitivity imaging components from exposure to excessive light input. Fluorescent image data are separated into at least red and green color bands which are separately processed to produced a video display in which normal tissue is displayed in predetermined specific color, and abnormal tissue in one or more distinctly different colors. In one embodiment, an image color interpretation guide is provided in the form of multiple color bars which are superimposed on a single video display device with the image display. of different kinds. In another embodiment, color control is provided by adjusting the amplification of the imaging components for each of the color bands while viewing tissue known to be normal using a recursive algorithm until the ratio of the maximum values of the color separation signals fall within a predetermined range. The high-sensitivity imaging components are protected by controlling impingement of light on the imagining components, selectively controlling emission of white and excitation light from the light source, and controlling the power source for the imaging components.

Fluorescent imaging device

A fluorescent imaging device to prevent the breakdown of a fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus has a light source for endoscope use which selectively switches between an excitation light and a white light. This introduces a light into a light guide of an endoscope and such light is emitted onto an object. A fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging device images the fluorescences obtained by excitation with the excitation light which is emitted onto the object. A white light imaging device images a white light image obtained from the white light which is emitted onto the object. A switch inputs a power source onto the fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus and there is a mechanism to prevent overprint on an image plane of the fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus which is in the imaging condition with the power source inputted. A fluorescent observation image generating device generates a fluorescent observation image signal for fluorescent observation use, and outputted from the fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging measure of the imaging part is in electric signal from; which a white light observation image signal used for white light observation is derived.

Fluorescent diagnostic system and method providing color discrimination enhancement

A light scanning device has a tip structure which includes a light scanning part connected to a light source, and which is insertable into a body cavity and is formed so as to be water-tight. A controlling part controls the light scan through the tip structure, and the tip structure and the controlling part are also connected to each other in a water-tight manner by a slender tube through which a plurality of electrical cables pass. An electric connector is fixed with the proximal end portion of the tube in a water-tight manner, and is electrically connectable so as to be water-tight with and removable from this controlling part.

Light scanning devices of a water-tight structure to be inserted into a body cavity to obtain optical information on inside of a biological tissue

At the tip of an insertion part of an endoscope, an object window for regular observation use is positioned at almost the center, directly connected to which, said object window for fluorescent observation use is provided, and at the both sides of the object window for regular observation use and the object window for fluorescent observation use, two illumination windows are provided. A forceps hole which is an opening part at the tip side of a forceps channel which is inserted into the insertion part is provided at the lower right of the object window for regular observation use, and a treatment tool which is inserted through a forceps insertion channel is to be extruded from this forceps hole. By this way, on monitor images at both of white light observation and fluorescent observation, the treatment tool such as a forceps or the like is designated at almost the same position to improve the manipulation capability.

Endoscopes and endoscope devices which image regular observation images and fluorescent images as well as which provide easier operation of treatment tools

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Takeshi Ozawa